According to reports from the US, lawyers for the Philippine community reported that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was rapidly deporting individual crew members off cruise ships that it alleged had violated their work visas.
This comes as the Trump administration confirmed on 21st August, that it was expanding its review of all current US visas and specifically suspending work visas for foreigners as commercial truck drivers.
The Pilipino Workers Centre (PWC) reported CBP officers once again met the Carnival Cruise Line ship ’Carnival Sunshine’ on 17th August, when she returned to Norfolk, Virginia, from her weekly cruise.
Four Filipino crew members out of a crew of over 1,000 were reportedly taken into custody, removed from the ship, placed in a hotel under guard overnight, and flown out of the US the following day.
The advocacy groups claimed that the crew members are being ‘fast-tracked’ for deportation with no legal process. They said no evidence, no charges, and no hearings were being conducted. Instead, the crew members are told they must sign deportation paperwork or face the potential of a $250,000 fine or jail sentence.
As part of their deportation, they are also barred from returning to the US for 10 years.
Over 100 crew members from various cruise ships around the US, all holders of valid crew visas for work on commercial vessels, have been deported, it was alleged.
CBP confirmed the actions to local media ‘13News Now in Virginia’, saying that the individuals were “found inadmissible and were denied entry into the United States,” as part of “ongoing cruise vessel operations” where immigration law is being enforced.
The Pilipino Workers Centre reported it is in talks with the Philippine government about the matter.
The US State Department has confirmed that it is reviewing what it said are 55 mill US visas, looking for any violations that could lead to deportation.
Associated Press noted there are 12.8 mill foreigners with residency papers, known as a ‘Green Cards’ and an additional 3.6 mill people in the US on visas. It believed the remainder of the 55-mill figure quoted is outstanding multi-entry visas where the people are not currently in the country.
This was highlighted in a recent issue of ‘Maritime Executive’.
